The real health care change we need

A sea change is needed in doctors' attitudes everywhere concerning the value of tools we here take for granted. Doc, I know you have a Blackberry, maybe even an iPhone. Do you know you can reach me on it?

We're talking here of things like SMS, e-mail and the Web, the same tools retailers, restaurants and travel sites use to maintain contact with their customers.

I mention the study because the British have a single-payer system, one which is quite different than the American system. But the situation here is identical.

My doctor has a lot of excuses. HIPAA is a favorite. But I still can't connect with my doctor via e-mail the way I can with my kids' teachers. The only way I can schedule an appointment is with a phone call.

A sea change is needed in doctors' attitudes everywhere concerning the value of tools we here take for granted. Doc, I know you have a Blackberry, maybe even an iPhone. Do you know you can reach me on it?

A whole new world of social networking is developing, patients learning on their own, learning from one another, and doctors are divorced from it.

What made some sense a decade ago makes no sense now.

Every doctor should have a Web page with an e-mail link.

Every doctor should be willing to answer an e-mail from a patient.

Scheduling systems need to be accessible by patients.

Hospitals should maintain SMS contact with families in case of emergency.

Payment systems need to be integrated to eliminate the drip-drip-drip of post-visit bills.

Simple changes like this will save money, but more important they will improve care. We're here, online, doc. It's time for you to deal with it.

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